8 Iloilo towns identified as "Makamasang Tugon" recipients
Eight municipalities in the province of Iloilo were identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Region as recipients of another poverty alleviation dubbed "Makamasang Tugon".
The eight Iloilo towns are: Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, Carles, Concepcion, Janiuay, Maasin and San Dionisio.
Information Officer Alma Jornadal of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD 6) said that the eight were recipients of KALAHI-CIDSS project under phase 1 and 2. Having showed a satisfactory performance on good governance along participation, transparency and accountability during the KALAHI-CIDSS implementation, these municipalities were considered for the p[ilot test of the "Makamasang Tugon".
The Makamasang Tugon Project will start in June 2008 and will run for one year. The DSWD has partnered with the Department of Interior and Local Government for its implementation.
During the regional orientation on the Makamasang Tugon project, DSWD 6 Assistant Regional Director Joel Galicia explained that Makamasang Tugon is another poverty alleviation project that would test an LGU-led implementation scheme of the community-driven development technology.
Galicia said that the community-driven development approach proved effective during the KALAHI-CIDSS implementation.
"We need to scale it up to ensure its sustainability by institutionalizing participatory governance through the harmonization of the community-driven development and the local planning and budgeting processes," Galicia said. (PIA/T.Villavert)